Will KeyArena be ready for the return of the Sonics?
SEATTLE -- Monday's news that the Sonics will likely be returning to Seattle has local basketball fans excited, but a return to KeyArena might not be as easy as some would assume.
Assuming the NBA Board of Governors approves the deal, the Sacramento Kings will soon become the Seattle SuperSonics and will play at least two seasons at KeyArena while a permanent arena is built in the SoDo neighborhood.
Since the Sonics moved away nearly 5-years ago, KeyArena has played home to WNBA and college basketball game, but the NBA is a completely different animal.
When the Kings become the Sonics, the calm neighborhood of Queen Anne will change. And that's just fine for the locals.
"You can definitely tell the influx in the neighborhood. It's great," said Mary Rey of Queen Anne's Mecca Cafe.
The Mecca Café is a block way from KeyArena, and Rey said employees are already thinking about the next NBA season.
"I think the Sonics, especially with the anticipation, will be really big," Rey said.
While its seems the neighborhood is ready, it's not clear that KeyArena will be ready.
Seattle City Councilman Tim Burgess said Chris Hansen's investment group has already been working with the mayor's office and city staff to figure out a retrofit plan for the arena.
"We don't have very long. There's a lot of work to do here," Burgess said.
The old Sonics hardwood is now in Oklahoma and next season's games still have to be scheduled before the season tips off in October.
Before that happens, the area will get $12-15 million in new improvements. That's good for fans, and it's good for the long term viability of the 50-year-old building.
"And a huge win for Seattle Center and a huge win for the city's bank account," Burgess said.
Suman Hothi of Queen Anne Liquor and Wine said sales spike when there's an event at KeyArena.
"It definitely is much busier. You see a lot of people excited and happy and better moods," Hothi said.
The Seattle Storm aren't sure what their future holds. Team officials are bullish on Hansen and a potential new area, but the team has a lease at KeyArena until 2018.
Assuming the NBA Board of Governors approves the deal, the Sacramento Kings will soon become the Seattle SuperSonics and will play at least two seasons at KeyArena while a permanent arena is built in the SoDo neighborhood.
Since the Sonics moved away nearly 5-years ago, KeyArena has played home to WNBA and college basketball game, but the NBA is a completely different animal.
When the Kings become the Sonics, the calm neighborhood of Queen Anne will change. And that's just fine for the locals.
"You can definitely tell the influx in the neighborhood. It's great," said Mary Rey of Queen Anne's Mecca Cafe.
The Mecca Café is a block way from KeyArena, and Rey said employees are already thinking about the next NBA season.
"I think the Sonics, especially with the anticipation, will be really big," Rey said.
While its seems the neighborhood is ready, it's not clear that KeyArena will be ready.
Seattle City Councilman Tim Burgess said Chris Hansen's investment group has already been working with the mayor's office and city staff to figure out a retrofit plan for the arena.
"We don't have very long. There's a lot of work to do here," Burgess said.
The old Sonics hardwood is now in Oklahoma and next season's games still have to be scheduled before the season tips off in October.
Before that happens, the area will get $12-15 million in new improvements. That's good for fans, and it's good for the long term viability of the 50-year-old building.
"And a huge win for Seattle Center and a huge win for the city's bank account," Burgess said.
Suman Hothi of Queen Anne Liquor and Wine said sales spike when there's an event at KeyArena.
"It definitely is much busier. You see a lot of people excited and happy and better moods," Hothi said.
The Seattle Storm aren't sure what their future holds. Team officials are bullish on Hansen and a potential new area, but the team has a lease at KeyArena until 2018.
Why do we need a Basketball team? Who really cares, just the merchants around the arena during game time. Sad to say our society even pays to have these arenas to be built with public money and only a few profit by them.
I feel sorry for you seattlites having to pay all those much higher taxes to help a private indust. millionaire play w/his toys. You ask yourself why wouldn't a bank loan him that monies, it is a very high risk. I will say 6 yrs down the road this team will not make money and will fail again just like before, nothing has changed just because a new stadium will not bring in fans!!!
We all cried that our team was stolen, then we ended up stealing another team to make ourselves feel better. At least it's from a state with two teams.Â
Oh yeah, that whole building is 50 years old! It sure ain't like it was upgraded in '95, right?
2 really big benefits here.
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1. The Storm will benefit from the arena updates, making the rest of their stay better for them and the fans.
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2. The city and the local neighborhood will reap some benefits of the increased public presence monetarily.
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New hardwood for the Sonics will easily transfer to the new Arena when it opens, and if there is a delay in the building opening, well they have a reasonable place to play until it does.
Wait a minute! The old Sonics hardwood now resides in OKC??? I've got a truck. Anybody got a hammer and chisel?
I've got some leftover hardwood and bamboo from a couple home projects I was working on. Maybe if we all donated some of our leftover hardwood, and some wood glue we could patch something together for the 2013 season!
Ho, hum. Watching basketball is still more boring drunk than watching baseball sober.
 @slappywag Well then don't watch it then. Nobody's making you. So why do you even bother to post?
The seats are narrow in "the Key". Can't wait for a new arena and some creature comforts inside and out of a new venue. Â
SPORTS, ESPECIALLY PROFESSIONAL SPORTS ARE CORRUPT AND CORRUPT ALL THAT DEAL WITH THEM.
 @contraryjim What ?? I couldn't understand what you were saying with all that yelling.
@contraryjim And we can't wait for the Sonics to come home.
Good news for Sonic fans... The Rose Garden in Portland will still be the biggest dump in the NBA. The last home game they had, the visiting team went to the city dump and it took them SIX hours before someone told them it wasn't the Rose Garden. Upon entering the Rose Garden one player is quoted as saying "man the city dump looked nicer AND smelled better than this place!"
 @SoundersCougzBravesPackers Ah Portscum.
How many times has the Key been 'upgraded'? For basketball...
It'll never be good enough. Been there, done that.
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Give the new one 10 years, and the owners and primadonnas will whine about it as well.
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Play Ball!
Wow, go to Key Arena, smoke a joint, and watch the Sonic's next to a gay couple. Who would have ever thought!
@Grumpa  I know !! Awsome huh....GO SONICS !!!!
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P.S. I hope I get to sit next to you
Uh - I think they'll find a way to make that happen. Just a hunch.